UN probe continues into alleged sexual abuse in Central African Republic: spokesman

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday provided an update on the ongoing investigations conducted jointly with the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) on the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Kemo prefecture in the Central African Republic (CAR).

"The Mission has received information on two new allegations in the area involving two minors," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "The United Nations will notify the concerned member state and request for national investigators in order to look into those allegations."

"Furthermore, the Mission has received additional information of possible further historic allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse," he said.

"The information is receiving preliminary review and assessment by OIOS to determine its credibility," he said. "All subsequent actions are to be taken as required in an expeditious manner."

As for an update on the other allegations already reported, OIOS has said that all complainants have been interviewed by the joint teams, the spokesman said. "Approximately 50 witnesses have been identified, and are also being interviewed in order to corroborate the testimonies."

An additional OIOS senior investigative manager has been deployed to help in completing the investigation, Dujarric said. "Those investigations are being conducted jointly with Burundi and Gabon."

"Most of those allegations date back to 2014 and 2015, which makes the investigations more complex," he said.

On a separate issue, the UN under-secretary-general for field support, Atul Khare, has arrived in the Central African Republic on Friday, he said. "During his visit, he will also look into issues of conduct and discipline, among other issues."

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has been rocked by recurring allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Babacar Gaye of Senegal, the head of MINUSCA, resigned in August 2015 following concerns about the handling of a spate of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. Some of the allegations were made against French soldiers and occurred before the UN mission was established in September 2014.

The concerns were also voiced on the UN's handling of the subsequent investigation, reports said.

In response to these concerns, the UN has committed to increasing reporting of allegations, including now providing the names of the countries where alleged perpetrators come from and information about investigations and other actions undertaken by the home country.

Under UN regulations, responsibility for prosecuting sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers rests with the peacekeeper's home country. Enditem